Justice delayed: ‘Two months on, acid attackers still at large’

BAHAWALPUR: While the victim of an acid attack two months ago has been undergoing treatment at Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s Plastic Surgery Ward his assailants have been at large, Muhammad Ajmal, the victim’s brother, told The Express Tribune on Saturday.

He said that his brother Ghulam Mustafa, a resident of Ghulam Ali Channar village, and father of six children kept pigeons at his house.

Around two months ago, one of his pigeons went and sat on his neighbour Allah Diwaya’s roof. Ajmal said that Mustafa threw a stone to make it fly, but the stone hit Diwaya’s daughter.

Diwaya, his son Aslam and son-in-law Khizar Hayaat entered Mustafa’s house and threw acid on him. Mustafa’s face, hands, legs and the torso were badly burnt in the assault.

Hearing his screams, several neighbours came over and called the police.

A case was registered at Naushera Jadeed police station under Sections 324 and 34 (attempted murder by several people) on Mustafa’s statement. He nominated four people in the FIR and requested prosecution under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 [punishment for acts of terrorism].

Ajmal said that a former district council member influenced the police not allowing them to register a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

“My brother is fighting for his life, he is completely burnt and is given food through a pipe,” said Ajmal.
“His eyes and ears have sloughed off,” he added.

Naushera Jadeed Sub Inspector Pir Baksh told The Express Tribune they were looking for the suspects.